GRGR: Gospels & stuff

[Peter Petto]

Paul Mackin said that the Vatican isn't all that hung up on biblical text 
(not like the Protestants).

I'd agree that there are multiple sources of authority in the Catholic 
Church, and I know what he means. But it's a bit like the chicken and the egg.

The bureaucracy of the Church -- the magesterium? -- the body of Christ -- 
exerts its authority alongside the historical documents in a way that is 
much like a circuit court. It must follow precedent. Look at a Papal 
Encyclical, nearly every sentence is footnoted with a Biblical or other 
scriptural reference.

I'm not familiar with how hung up the Protestants are. My first impression 
is to think that they're all over the map (Anabaptists, Baptists, 
Methodists, Presbyterians, Quakers....). But then I think of all the 
diversity and counterforces within the Catholic church, and can't imagine 
how to make such a comparison.

Wasn't the principle content of the Bible determined at one of the big 
Church Councils? The Council of Nicaea perhaps?

What changes to the Catholic Bible have been made by Protestant denominations?

(Our) Paul said:

>All this is of course under the guidance of the Holy Spirit so
>so that the canon does have to be considered inspired by God.

Which is exactly the heart of the matter. How does one discern that which 
is written under such guidance?


    p3++, retired Catholic, wannabe honorary apostle

<===>

If you board the wrong train, it is no use running along the corridor in 
the other direction.

Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer